March 8

Bars, Beam: Same as JO
The board, mounting block, or additional panel mats MAY be placed on an 8" mat for bar and beam mounts for bronze, silver and gold only.
Bars:
The tap swing 1/2 turn is an allowable dismount for Gold.

Same as JO:
from Tom Koll) Any supplemental device (board, mount trainer mat, or panel mats) used for mounting that is placed on top of the 8" mat or on the regular matting must be removed immediately after the mount. This would also apply to Xcel as it is an R & P clarification.
Example of how this applies to Xcel bars:
If a gymnast is doing a pullover from a stand (without doing a glide first) then she can stand on the mounting device for the skill.
However, if a glide is performed before a pullover, the mounting device must be removed BEFORE the pullover is performed. The gymnast cannot return to the mounting device to perform the pullover regardless of whether she performs the pullover from a punch action or comes to a complete stop before the pullover.

If a gymnast mounts (board is removed) and does several elements then falls, can the board be put back in so she can remount without an improper equipment deduction? After clarification from Connie, Tom and Linda...the answer is yes. No deduction is taken.
Vault: Not the same as JO:
If clubs are using the alternative springboard option for bronze, silver, gold athletes please check the equipment specifications and be sure the device they are using meets the standards. This is found in the Womens' R & P under the Apparatus Specifications Section 1. H 1.b on p. 54. It is not in the Xcel Code in either the print or digital version. There is no deduction for using the alternative board for Bronze or Silver. Start value is 9.5 for Gold Division if alternative board is used.

Balk Clarification:
In the Xcel Flip Book published Sept 2015 is says:
1. Balk: a running attempt that does not touch the board or the table.
Contact with the Table:
VOID: Gymnast contacts the Board or Table and doesn't vault
VOID: Gymnast contacts Board during a fall on the run

Example:
The gymnast contacts the table by jumping up onto it and running off the other end - she contacted the table so it would be considered a VOID VAULT.
(If she is doing the two part Silver vault, she did not complete a legal vault.)
If this happened on the first attempt she would have two more attempts to complete a successful vault.

On the second attempt: if she does the same thing, or contacts either the board or the table in any way without completing a legal vault, it is VOID, she is done and has to take a 0.
If on the second attempt she ran by without touching EITHER the board or the table it would be a BALK and she would have one more attempt to get over the table correctly.
If on the second attempt she completes a legal vault she gets a score and has one more attempt.

On the third attempt:
If she should balk (run by), or touch the board or table on the third attempt without going over correctly she has used her third attempt and is done.
If she completed a vault on attempt two she takes that score.
If on the third attempt she competes a vault she takes the better score of the second and third attempts.
If she has been unsuccessful in three attempts her score is 0.

Update from Dianne and Jan: Jan. 19, 2016

A question was raised recently about the status of the tap swing half turn dismount for the Gold Division. Please be assured that this has been thoroughly checked out and there has been NO CHANGE IN THE RULES and the dismount IS VALID for the Gold Division gymnasts.